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Scores killed by storm in India

Hundreds of people injured and thousands of homes destroyed in West Bengal.

14 Apr 2010 20:46 GMT

Tens of thousands of homes were said to have been demolished in the storm [AFP]

"Most of the victims were buried under the collapsed walls of their homes," he said.

Injured and homeless people have been evacuated to local schools for shelter, authorities said.

Death toll

PK Dutta, a magistrate in North Dinajpur, told Al Jazeera that casualty tolls are likely to rise.

"Maybe one lakh (100,000) homes have been fully destroyed," he said, adding that tarpaulins, food and other supplies would be given out to those affected.

Across the border in Bagladesh, officials in Rangpur district said two people had died as a result of the storm. A police barracks was also demolished, injuring dozens of people, including two in critical condition.

"The storm has damaged more than 11,000 mud, tin and concrete homes in Rangpur district alone - many of the houses were completely demolished," BM Enamul Haq, a Rangpur district administrator, said.